Sky Express Driver: I’m Not Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

The bus driver involved in the tragic Sky Express bus accident in Bowling Green, Virginia, in May has pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter, a felony. The plea came after a grand jury decided on the charges almost two months after the crash.

The fatal Virginia bus accident took place on May 31, when 37-year-old Kin Yiu Cheung was driving a budget bus to New York in the middle of the night. The driver lost control of the vehicle on I-95, left the roadway, and overturned after striking an embankment. Four people were killed in the crash and dozens more of the 60 passengers aboard were seriously injured.

Several witnesses said that they believed the bus driver was nodding off at the wheel, and Cheung initially told police during an interview that he had indeed fallen asleep while driving. However, Cheung’s defense attorneys say that Cheung was not allowed counsel and was not read his rights before he gave his statement.

The Sky Express bus accident is one of several deadly crashes involving bargain buses to take place in recent months. Many believe that the number and severity of accidents makes it clear that federal safety regulations need to be tightened when it comes to low-cost buses that travel up and down the East Coast.